Namibian history tells us how the victims of the Cassinga attack ducked for cover in a desperate effort to escape with their lives on that fateful day. To this day the memories of the events from 45 years ago are still deeply embedded in the minds of those who survived the horrific ordeal. 

When one closely examines the materials of war, one comes across an aggressive force that trampled upon a country with a population of fewer than one million people in 1978.

The enemy was not sleeping, and with each day they planned their next strategic move, despite their sophisticated war machines. 

"The mission then was, we must locate and attack the northern front of that particular headquarters in that area and after that, we must do area operation in the normal area of the northern front from the north towards south cut line over there."

A tragedy of unprecedented proportions was struck 12 years after the formation of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia to launch an armed struggle to free the territory from colonial South African rule.

It was on the 4th of May, when Cassinga, a transit camp in Angola, which predominantly housed exiled Namibian civilians, was attacked in the morning.

The air strike seemed to have been well calculated as it coincided with the early morning parade.

Initially, some thought it was the delivery of a consignment of food items and to the little ones then, sweets from the Commander of PLAN Sam Nujoma, but it soon became clear that they were under attack by the South African Defence forces.

Cassinga is located on a small hill, with a river that runs on its west side - the famous one that is a prominent feature in many Cassinga survivors' stories.

Research indicates that this is the Cuvelai River, from its original name Kunelayi. 

"I knew how to swim and I had to throw myself in the river just to say God take me, or the crocodile to eat me than the enemy."

"The waves of the river were too strong. Then we held one another and jumped into the river but one of our colleagues slipped, his hand slipped and he was washed away."

"I could see aircraft and I could hear the bombardment and from there I went straight to the side of the river. It's how I survived."

They were young people then, who at a tender age, had to face a predicament that no human being should ever be subjected to.

 "I could not take cover because I saw people running. I followed the building but before we reached it, it was in flames."

"This image of a swollen body is still in my mind, it was horror."

"One of the comrades untied me from my mom's back and put me aside. At that time my mom was in a bad condition."

"According to them, I was found under the corps that is how I survived by God's grace."

"As I was growing up, I was a person who likes laughing, and making jokes but from that day, I am not the same."   

"There are days that I feel normal but there are days I feel depressed."

A word of caution from one of the now-fallen Namibian heroes. 

"Those who are saying it's too much, they must listen to the stories of the survivors."